Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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106. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 136 of 7 April 2022, the status of the development of guidelines for the implementation of decarbonising zones; the estimated timeline for the publication of these guidelines; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28476/22]

Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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118. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment further to Parliamentary Question No. 121 of 24 February 2022, the details of any engagement he or his Department has had to date in 2022 with Galway City Council and Galway County Council with regards to supporting and promoting efforts at local government-level on climate action; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28477/22]

Brian Leddin (Limerick City, Green Party)
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119. To ask the Minister for Communications, Climate Action and Environment the scope of local authority climate action plans; the extent to which local authorities will be responsible for reducing emissions in their respective geographical areas separate to reducing emissions in the operations of their organisation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28372/22]

Eamon Ryan (Dublin Bay South, Green Party)
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I propose to take Question Nos   119  , 106     and 118    together.

The Climate Action and Low Carbon Development Act 2021 was commenced on the 23 July 2021. Section 16 of the Act requires each Local Authority to prepare a climate action plan, specifying the mitigation and adaptation measures to be adopted by the Local Authority. Local Authorities will have 12 months to complete their individual plans once requested by the Minister, with the request to be made within 18 months of the coming into operation of the Act.

Local Authority plans will have to be consistent with national climate plans and strategies, and will include both mitigation and adaptation measures to be updated every five years. Local Authorities will liaise with each other in the preparation of these plans. My Department is working with the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), Climate Action Regional Offices (CAROs), Local Authorities, and the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to finalise a set of statutory guidelines detailing the approach Local Authorities are to take in the development and implementation of Local Authority climate action plans.  In line with the national climate action plan, guidelines for the implementation of decarbonising zones are currently being incorporated into the statutory guidelines for Local Authority climate action plans.

While I have had no direct engagement with Galway City Council and Galway County Council with regard to supporting and promoting efforts at local government level on climate action, my Department continues to work with the four CAROs and stakeholders, including representatives from the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage, on a regular basis, in particular through participation in the National Local Authority Climate Action Steering Group  which meets regularly. The CAROs continue to work with Local Authorities to both facilitate and monitor implementation of local climate actions undertaken under existing local adaptation strategies and the climate charter developed under the 2019 climate action plan.

My Department also continues to fund the implementation of the Local Authority climate action training programme. This programme is increasing knowledge of climate change and the need for action among all Local Authority staff and will facilitate both climate mitigation and adaptation at local level.